The names of things make for interesting writing. A noun can contain masses of information. A noun conjures up the detail. A noun can take you precisely to the thing it names. A noun often brings with it associations that are yours alone. ‘Westridge Road’ conjures for me a house, a street, a time in my life, eccentric neighbours, a walk to school -so much. As a reader, you are likely to imagine Westridge Road differently from The Street, or Mill Lane or Trafalgar Square.
If you write ‘a dog’, ‘biscuits’ or ‘hat’, your reader will imagine their general idea of dogs, or biscuits or hats. What a difference it makes if you write spaniel, labradoodle, lurcher; jammy dodger, digestive, custard cream; sombrero, bowler, bobble hat.
Do you have a section in your journal for collecting words? Good. If not, you could start one. Make lists. Note down interesting street names. See how many names of things you know: trees, fruit, flowers, furniture, cars, coats, shoes, rocks, fish … You never know when they will come in useful!
Writing Box 